We have several areas on the course that have become little "trails of convenience"...shortcuts to teepads or landing areas. A very good example of this is on hole 12: After driving 11, many players take the high left shortcut to the 12th tee box. Also on 12: from the C position up to the road---instead of walking up to the path leading from 13, or taking the peeler-core-marked path from 12B, there is now a shortcut over the hill.

We can reduce the erosion and encourage new growth in these areas by doing nothing more than using the paths we built in the first place. Also: at the risk of sounding like somebody's mom out on the course, I have been trying to raise the subject with regulars and encourage people to change their habits about taking these shortcuts.

If the members and anyone who cares enough to be reading this try to Stay On Paths Wherever Possible, then the erosion resulting from taking little shortcuts will be reduced.

JT (now to be known as "CM") makes a great point. At the risk of sounding like the course dad, I wish to remind everyone that it is our responsibility to make sure the course looks good. We are in year 3 of a 5 year agreement with the city. Later this year, we'll be having a few work parties to fix the hill on hole 12 once and for all as well as do further planting of native species. We will need people to make this happen, so hopefully we can get a critical mass to offset the most critical areas of the course.